If you’re in the Los Angeles area, you have a few more days to see Scott Hove’s “Pussy Jihad” exhibit at La Luz De Jesus Gallery and the closing lecture with the artist himself.

The Baby Prophet Delivering the Annunciation of the Divine Beheading

Scott Hove made a name for himself with his outlandish and unique take on contemporary sculpture. His twisted and freakish cake decorations are the envy of all bakeries and cupcake shops. Hung just above eye level and mounted on taxidermy plaques, the works — which are sculpted from acrylic and decorated with what seems like found objects, party favors and hand made things — look good enough to eat. The sculptures would be nearly indistinguishable from wedding and birthday cakes if not for their decorations, which include fake gemstones, bullhorns, dolls, and knives. Some of the sculptures have model animal jaws, complete with teeth and tongues, some look like female sex organs, others are weapons. Several pieces contain spikes and things that would cause harm if brushed against or touched. These works are a study of macabre edibles. Scott’s geometric forms and bizarre imagery intricately adorned in sweet and delicate frostings will make your eyes water when gazed upon… some of which may make you sick when eaten.

In popular, straight, male culture, to be labeled with the misogynist term “pussy” is one of the ultimate, emasculating insults a man can receive. In contemporary, religious, fundamentalist culture, “pussy” must be marginalized, shamed, circumcised, hidden, and minimalised under the threat of death. The term “pussy” in the title of this show is used both literally and as metaphor. “Pussy” in this context will represent the peak, positive expressions of the feminine… kindness, lush beauty, intimate pleasure, the promise of the everlasting.

The title of the show Pussy Jihad points out the ultimately, cowardly ethos behind the religious, fundamentalist position – using pussy as an explosive weapon. Those who destroy lives, culture, and nature behind the moral facade of religion are pussies. This unforgiving and sad morality must be destroyed via Pussy Jihad.

Scott Hove is a primarily self-taught, San Francisco born artist living in Los Angeles. His “Cakeland” sculptures integrate dualistic themes in a highly theatrical manner, using traditional cake decorating techniques in sculptures and installations to describe a world of implied comfort and threat. His work has been featured on the Food Network and on several travel and gourmet programs.

Scott’s works encompasses a broad variety of media, from sculptural installations to painting, but the cakes are formed using carvible polyurethane foam and plywood. They are frosted with a variety of acrylic media and accessorized with fake fruit and other objects found in stores or on the street. The materials and techniques borrow from traditional and decorative arts and craft to render the oftentimes jarring objects and fantasy installations. The archways here at Littletopia were created on site, specifically for this space.

Hove’s co-opting of kitsch is elevated through satire, allowing him to integrate topical political and social issues as textual messages in a thought-provoking rather than offensive manner.

Ride The Slayer

Snatch

Anima

Frank Forte Bio

Frank Forte is an accomplished designer, storyboard artist and comic book artist. He has worked in animation for feature films, TV and gaming. Some of the shows Frank has worked on include: Bob’s Burgers, Despicable Me 2, Lego Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Out, The Super Hero Squad Show, Marvel Heroes 4D, Lego Hero Factory, Lego Bionicle: The Legend Reborn, Hi Hi Puffy Ami Yumi, Re-Animated Pilot (Out of Jimmy’s Head), The Mr. Men Show, Bionicle: The Legend Reborn (DVD-2009), Lego Clutch Powers 4D ride at Legoland and Lego Atlantis. He co-created The Cletus and Floyd Show with Gene McGuckin, a tribute to animation directors Tex Avery, Bob Clampett and Chuck Jones. Robert S. Rhine and Frank Forte created the pilot episode of Sickcom the Animated Series, which was sold to Spike and Mike’s Sick and Twisted Festival Of Animation in 2003.

In Frank’s spare time he paints. Recent shows include Laluzapalooza 2015 and Laluzapalooza Jury Winners Group Show 2015 at La Luz De Jesus Gallery (Los Angeles, CA), Villains of Animation at Van Eaton Galleries (Sherman Oaks, CA). Past shows include the CATZ Group Show at LTD. Gallery in Seattle, WA and the 6×6 group Show at The Phone Booth Gallery in Long Beach, CA. His art has been exhibited at Cannibal Flower (Los Angeles) and the Animation Guild Gallery 839 (North Hollywood).

Frank is also the publisher at Asylum Press, a publishing company that produces premium comic books and graphic novels within the horror, science fiction, and action genres.